English Standard Version
2 John 1:6
6And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it.
2 John 1:6 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.
- New International Version (NIV)And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.
- New King James Version (NKJV)This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Love means doing what God has commanded us, and he has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning.
Context of 2 John 1:6
4I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we were commanded by the Father. 5And now I ask you, dear lady—not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another. And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it. 7For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. 8Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward.
Read all of 2 John 12 John 1:6 word by word
καὶ αὕτη ἐστὶν ἡ ἀγάπη ἵνα περιπατῶμεν κατὰ τὰς ἐντολὰς αὐτοῦ. αὕτη ἡ ἐντολή ἐστιν καθὼς ἠκούσατε ἀπ᾽ ἀρχῆς, ἵνα ἐν αὐτῇ περιπατῆτε·Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Andκαίkai · andG2532
- thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
- isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- loveὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- loveἀγάπηagapē · loveG26
- thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
- we walkπεριπατέωperipateō · to walkG4043
- afterκατάkata · according toG2596
- hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- commandmentsἐντολήentolē · commandmentG1785
- asκαθώςkathōs · as/just asG2531
- ye have heardἀκούωakouō · to hearG191
- fromἀπόapo · away fromG575
- the beginningἀρχήarchē · beginningG746
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
Cross-references for 2 John 1:6
- John 14:15"If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
- John 15:10If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.
- Romans 13:8Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.
- Galatians 5:13For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
- 1 John 5:3For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.
- 2 John 1:5And now I ask you, dear lady—not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another.
- 1 John 2:24Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father.
Commentaries on 2 John 1:6
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 6And this is love - That is, our love is shown and proved by our walking according to the commandments of God; for love is the principle of obedience.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 6And this is love, that we walk after his commandments - This is the proper expression or evidence of love to God. See the notes at John 14:15, John 14:21. This is the commandment - That is, this is his great and special commandment; the one by which his disciples are to be especially characterized, and by which they are to be distinguished in the world. See the notes at John 13:34.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 4-6Verses 4-6 It is good to be trained to early religion; and children may be beloved for their parents' sake. It gave great joy to the apostle to see children treading in their parents' steps, and likely in their turn to support the gospel. May God bless such families more and more, and raise up many to copy their example. How pleasing the contrast to numbers who spread irreligion, infidelity, and vice, among their children! Our walk is true, our converse…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4-11John now applies the truth and love that he mentioned in the introduction (1:1–3) to the situation of those he is writing to. Living in truth and love means maintaining unity or fellowship with true Christians (1:4–6). It also involves recognizing false teachers and choosing not to listen to or support them (1:7–11).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 66. "Love is the fulfilling of the law" (Ro 13:10), and the fulfilling of the law is the sure test of love. This is the commandment--Greek, "The commandment is this," namely, love, in which all God's other commandments are summed up.Read the comment
Topics related to 2 John 1:6
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 2 John 1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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